From the moment someone in a group exclaims, “Let’s go on a holiday,” an online search begins. If your resort doesn’t feature in their search for “the best place to stay in XYZ,” your business loses the race even before it gets a chance to stand at the starting line! That’s why if you want to thrive in the Internet age, digital marketing for resorts is non-negotiable.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the top 6 strategies for digital marketing for resorts to boost bookings. These aren’t earth-shattering, “you’ve never heard them before” tactics. They are tried and tested, and recommended by the best digital marketing strategists across the world. We’re just emphasizing how and why they are so important to your resort business.
1. List your resort on Google
Google My Business (GMB) is your strongest ID on the world wide web. A verified GMB account positions you right in front of your potential customers. According to research, hospitality brands are one of the top businesses to leverage GMB to get visibility in searches. Businesses with Google Business Profiles receive 200 clicks/interactions on average every month, in addition to exceeding 1000 monthly search views. And all this comes for free.
Google goes the extra mile for resorts by offering its Free Hotel’s Booking Link which allows hotels to display rates and get direct bookings at no cost. Learn more about it here. We rest our case!
A word of caution though—an unverified GMB account, incorrect or incomplete information on your business, being unresponsive to reviews, etc. can backfire. So make sure you fill in all details, respond to reviews, add high-quality photographs of your resort, and do everything in your power to ensure your resort’s profile can reach its target audience effectively.
2. Build a robust website
Go the distance with your resort’s website; it’s a resourceful tool for digital marketing for resorts. Showcase the location, your amenities, the rooms, and other features and facilities. Throw in additional information about the location and things to do to catch your customers’ attention.
But most importantly, convert all this hard work on your content to the mobile platform as well. 58.67% of all website traffic worldwide comes from mobile phones. You want to make sure this chunk of users is not ignored. A mobile device-friendly website will have your customers eating out of your hand!
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3. Leverage the power of SEO
When your customers are ready to find you, SEO helps drive that journey—it places your business’s information right in front of your customers’ eyes!
With high search engine rankings, your resort gains the trust of potential customers; it’s natural for them to associate the popularity of your resort with its high search engine rankings.
SEO comprises a range of technical strategies that call for niche expertise. From in-depth keyword research and use of long-tail keywords to on-page and off-page SEO, and several other insider skills, an SEO expert can put your resort on the global map of travel.
Don’t miss out on the benefits of local SEO—ask our experts now. For instance, if your resort is at Nandi Hills, you would primarily want to focus on tourists coming from Bangalore. Local SEO assists with attracting the customers most likely to visit your resort.
4. Get on socials
Modern-day digital marketing is incomplete without social media marketing. Digital marketing for resorts can be spread across different social media channels, ideally Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Showcase your resort’s specialties, packages, services, and more; use the platforms to connect with potential and existing customers; build a story around your resort and the type of vacations you offer—in short, social media is a great medium to instantly build relationships with your target audience and measure the impact of the content you put out there. Hence, use it wisely, be consistent with sharing content, and be responsive to comments and messages.
But there’s more. Keep an eye out for mentions, user generated content, promotions, etc. on social media platforms by using social listening tools to stay on top of what’s happening in your industry and how customers are responding. This helps enhance engagement, use positive reviews to improve your reputation, and rectify negative feedback, if any.
5. Run paid campaigns
Organic traffic is great, but you may not want to put all your eggs in one basket. Paid campaigns help fill the gaps, giving you quick traffic boost and enhancing visibility, with the power of real-time tracking and measuring.
With paid advertising, you can reach your target audience, which sets the path for rapid conversion opportunities. They also come in handy with seasonal changes, empowering you to cash in on peak season, and opening up opportunities during off season. Local ads come particularly handy to target last-minute travelers near your location.
6. Blog to keep your content fresh
Most businesses make the mistake of creating content on their website and leaving it for organic reach. However, search engines need fresh content to appear on your website regularly to hook your target audience.
Blogs are the best tools to add refreshing and relevant content to your website on a consistent basis. However, blogging is also helpful to showcase your expertise in your industry. When you share new blogs consistently, you audience will automatically turn to you for valuable information, putting you on the seat of a thought leader. What better way to be in the good books of your customers!
Digital marketing for resorts is a full time responsibility. You may find it challenging to manage the multiple facets of the task and do justice to it. A digital marketing agency for resorts and hotels will be the right partner to spotlight your unique needs and strategise to meet your specific goals.
We have additional tips for digital marketing for resorts. Reach out to us!
Hire an Expert
Fresh Mind Ideas, a leading digital marketing agency in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kerala has hands on experience with building digital strategy for resorts and hotels. We’re also experts in branding, UI & UX, and videos. We can craft tailored digital solutions for your resort brand, building brand awareness, boosting lead generation, and increasing your bookings. Talk to us today!
If you need help with your branding/ marketing/ web development/ animated videos, get in touch.